// Running shoes are one of those things that I find boring to shop for, but since running is the only workout I do I guess it's important to have a functional pair of shoes. My old pair is starting to look worn down. They have small holes in them and it's no longer an option to try and clean the dirt off them. I've also experienced some soreness in my feet after running for the last few weeks, which I believe is due to the fact that my shoes are a bit to stiff and not adapting to the shape of my feet. In other words, it's time for an upgrade!

After doing some searching online and trying on a few styles I chose to go with the Nike Free Run 2017, a neutral and light running shoe. The lightness of these shoes was actually the main reason why I chose them. The knitted material is also very soft and breathable, which makes wearing these shoes feel almost like wearing socks with a thick sole. This might sound weird, but it's actually very comfortable. The laces have supporting ties on the side that makes the fit of the shoe even more snug. The idea behind this model is for the shoe to adapt itself to the natural shape of the foot, to give the feeling of running barefoot, which is exactly what I was looking for. A tip if you are looking to buy running shoes from Nike is to add 1-1,5 sizes, since they run small.

Ideal of Swedenis a Swedish brand selling accessories for mobile phones. The brand has gotten a lot of attention the last few years, thanks to a smart marketing strategy using social media. I like following new brands that are growing fast, especially when they include sustainability in their business. For example, Ideal of Sweden have chosen to use PU material instead of genuine leather. This is a good thing regarding animal welfare, but keep in mind PU is made from plastic. However, it's a good alternative if you don't like using real leather. All of their products also fulfills the environmental regulations from the European Union, including the chemical regulations from REACH. Last but not least all of the packaging materials used are 100% recycled. Well done! It's of course very hard to find a brand who's doing exactly everything right, but I think it's important to highlight the ones who are doing something good!

// As a result of the increasing popularity of sustainable alternatives, more and more brands use different kinds of environmental certifications for their products. As a consumer it can be a challenge to separate all of these certifications. It is also easy to be swayed by companies claiming to have sustainable products, just because they use 25% organic cotton or because they decreased their water consumption by 40%. Of course this is a good thing - but none of these actions guarantees an organic product. With this in mind, I would like to take a look at some of the different environmental certificates out there. First up is Oeko-Tex, which is a type of environmental certification focusing on the finished product. The aim is to exclude all harmful substances in products. Keep in mind this is not an organic certification, so if you're after organic cotton for example, you have to look for a different certification.

"The STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® is a worldwide consistent, independent testing and certification system for raw, semi-finished, and finished textile products at all processing levels, as well as accessory materials used. Examples of articles that can be certified: raw and dyed/finished yarns, woven and knitted fabrics, accessories, such as buttons, zip fasteners, sewing threads or labels, ready-made articles of various types (garments of all types, domestic and household textiles, bed linen, terry products and much more). On the basis of its comprehensive and strict catalogue of measures, with several hundred regulated individual substances, the STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® takes account of:

Numerous harmful chemicals, even if they are not yet legally regulated.

Requirements of Annexes XVII and XIV of the EuropeanChemicals Regulation REACH as well as of the ECHA SVHC Candidate List insofar as they are assessed by expert groups of the OEKO-TEX® Association to be relevant for fabrics, textiles, garments or accessories. Discussions and developments that are considered to be relevant are taken into account as quickly and effectively as possible through updates to the STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® requirements.

With its decades of experience, the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 therefore contributes to high and effective product safety from a consumer’s point of view. Test criteria and limit values in many cases go far beyond applicable national and international standards. Extensive product checks and regular company audits also ensure that the industry has a globally sustainable awareness of the responsible use of chemicals. With this concept, the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 has taken on a pioneering role for many years. The OEKO-TEX® tests for harmful substances are fundamentally based on the respective purpose of the textiles and materials. The more intensive the skin contact of a product and the more sensitive the skin, the stricter the human-ecological requirements that need to be complied with. The precondition for the certification of products in accordance with OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 is that all parts of an article meet the required criteria - in addition to the outer fabric, for example, also the sewing threads, inserts, prints etc., as well as non-textile accessories, such as buttons, zip fasteners, rivets etc. Additional preconditions are the existence and application of operational quality assurance measures, as well as the legally binding signing of undertakings and conformity declarations by the applicant."